Running and Racing
Fell Running: Stainer beats pain barrier
AMBLESIDE'S Simon Stainer was the surprise winner of the historic Lakeside-Gummers Howe race as he was still recovering from cracked ribs sustained in a biking accident, writes Mike Addison.
It was doubtful whether the 36-year-old would start the race, but he showed what a gutsy athlete he is by putting the discomfort to the back of his mind and winning in fine style.
He looked like coming second the position he finished last year as Horwich's Darren Kay hit the water for the return row across Windermere first.
But Kay went astray in his rowing boat and got tangled up with a moored yacht a few metres offshore while Stainer took full advantage and rowed in a straight line back to the Lakeside Hotel.
Dozens of spectators cheered him home in a time of 26 minutes and seven seconds just 19 seconds outside Mark Croasdale's 1994 record.
The time was even more remarkable considering that the race was run in oppressive heat, which reduced other athletes in the field to a walk up the climb to Gummers Howe.
Last year's winner, Helm Hill's Alastair Dunn had to settle for third place after catching Bingley's Ian Holmes in the return row across the lake. Alastair's wife Jennifer was the first ever lady competitor and she finished 12th.
In the team event pre-race favourites Limited Edition retained the title they won last year in 26-36, 45 seconds adrift of the time they set last year. The team comprising Ulverston's Chris Doyle, Sedbergh's Lee Siemaszko and Staveley's Rob Jeb won with more than three minutes to spare over Horwich.
The historic race which was revived in 1994 involves athletes running 600 metres through a field and along a road to the rear of the Lakeside Hotel. They then leap into a boat and row across Windermere before running up and down Gummers Howe (1,000ft) to return to the boats for the row back to the hotel where they finish on the lawns.
Results: Individuals: 1 S Stainer, Ambleside, 26-07; 2 D Kay, Horwich, 26-43; 3 A Dunn, Helm Hill, 27-10; 4 I Holmes, Bingley, 27-21; 5 J Deegan, Ambleside, 28-58. Team: 1 Limited Edition, 26-36; 2 Horwich, 29-42; 3 Holme Pierrepoint, 30-48.
n HELM Hill's Alastair Dunn used course knowledge to good effect as he steered the perfect line to win the eight-mile Tebay Fell Race.
With runners heading off in all directions from the start, Dunn navigated his way to the front of the field and beat Borrowdale's Lee Siemaszko to the finish funnel by a margin of 41 seconds to clock 1-14-30.
Kendal's Joe Symonds, who had beaten Dunn at Helm Hill some four days previously, finished third ahead of Borrowdale's Andrew Davies who was first V40.
The first woman was Borrowdale's Nicola Davies who was 33rd in 1-33-03 with CFR's Kate Beaty some seven places and two minutes behind her.
Results: 1 A Dunn, Helm Hill, 1-14-30; 2 L Siemaszko, Borrowdale, 1-15-11; 3 J Symonds, Kendal, 1-17-21; 4 A Davies, Borrowdale, 1-17-28; 5 C Doyle, Trafford, 1-20-44; 6 D Birch, Keswick, 1-21-12; 7 Peter Brittleton, Helm Hill, 1-21-57; 8 B Lonsdale, Settle, 1-22-33; 9 G Bland, Borrowdale, 1-23-50; 10 Paul Brittleton , Helm Hill, 1-24-30; 12 M Woods, unattached, 1-25-16; 13 P Whiting, Kendal, 1-25-49; 16 M Walsh, Kendal, 1-26-36; 17 A Miller, Kendal, 1-27-17; 18 I Atkinson, Helm Hill, 1-27-45; 19 P Knowles, Ambleside, 1-28-52; 23 D Shepherd, Settle, 1-30-25; 24 F Livesey, Howgill, 1-31-10; 25 M Horn, Settle, 1-31-13; 26 M Wynne, Settle, 1-31-27; 27 R Cannon, Helm Hill, 1-31-31; 28 P Clark, Kendal, 1-31-37; 30 S Watson, Dallam, 1-32-00; 31 S Horsley, Howgill, 1-32-10; 32 H Symonds, Kendal, 1-32-26; 34 L Dixon, Helm Hill, 1-33-44; 35 J Hooson, Ambleside, 1-33-55; 36 M Meadowcroft, Dallam, 1-34-05; 37 O Fielden, Helm Hill, 1-34-21; 38 K Dacre, Kendal, 1-34-29; 39 D Aspden, Dallam, 1-34-35; 41 D Gorst, Kendal, 1-35-24; 42 P Rigby, Helm Hill, 1-35-37; 44 Mark Walsh, Kendal, 1-36-17; 45 D Richardson, Helm Hill, 1-36-38; 47 G Allsopp, Settle, 1-37-25; 50 R Jerram, Kendal, 1-37-51; 51 A Shepherd, Settle, 1-38-54; 52 D White, Helm Hill, 1-38-57; 55 N Hambrey, Kendal, 1-39-10; 56 T Murray, Helm Hill, 1-39-34; 57 J Rigby, Helm Hill, 1-39-39; 58 J Dickinson, Kendal, 1-40-04; 61 S Jaffs, Dallam, 1-41-19; 62 D Griffin, Dallam, 1-41-21; 67 S Moor, Settle, 1-42-46; 70 D Till, Helm Hill, 1-44-24; 72 D Appleyard, Helm Hill, 1-44-59; 76 J Broxap, Kendal, 1-46-37;81 J Fisher, Howgill, 1-47-54; 84 G Clarke, Kendal, 1-49-24; 86 J Leech, Dallam, 1-49-53; 88 P Dowker, Kendal, 1-51-11; 89 E Nixon, Eden, 1-53-04; 90 G Dowthwaite, Dallam, 1-53-05; 92 I Wood, Settle, 1-55-41; 94 D Whitehead, Kendal, 1-58-39; 95 K Finn, Kendal, 1-59-00; 96 A Carrington, Settle, 1-59-10; 99 P Mitchell, Kendal, 2-14-55; 100 P Percival-Smith, Kendal, 2-14-58.
n FELL runners from the area travelled to the Isle of Mull to take part in the Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon based this year in the hamlet of Knock close to Ben More.
This orienteering event for teams of two usually takes place in a remote, mountainous region of the Scottish Highlands with the exact venue only released 36 hours before the race starts.
In the A category event, which is run over two days, Settle's Jon Murfin and Alex Pilkington finished eighth
13-29-35 and Kendal's Rigby Jerram and Paul Simpson
(14-17-49) were 11th.
Helm Hill's Nicky Lavery and Milnthorpe's Wendy Dodds were the first female V40 team in 30th place.
The elite race was won by Steve Birkinshaw and Morgan Donnelly - winners of the Karrimor two years ago who had completed the Bob Graham Round just two weeks before.
n KENDAL'S Allan Miller
(44-48) was tenth in Saturday's Clougha Pike Fell Race which was won by Pudsey & Bramley's Danny Hope who shook off Mark Croasdale in the chase for the line after tracking him round the five mile course. First lady was Sarah Hammond (48-44) of Tatenhall.
n THE organisers of Coniston Country Fair are re-introducing the six-mile fell race to the top of Coniston Old Man and back. The race was last run in 1993 and has been won in the past by the likes of Fred Reeves and Kenny Stuart. The event takes place at Coniston Hall on July 24, starting at 2pm.
8:32am Friday 24th June 2005
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